In an interview with Variety, Cavill expressed that the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League did not surprise him, stating, "With everything that has happened this year, with the lockdown and cinemas having to close and streaming services now being how we are getting our entertainment, it's not really a surprise." He then noted, "It's one of those things where it's an opportunity, and I think it's great that Zack [Snyder] has an opportunity to finally release his vision of ['Justice League']," adding, "that's really important for a storyteller and a filmmaker." The actor further explained, "When that doesn't happen, it's always a sad occasion. And now Zack has the opportunity, and I'm excited to watch it."
The announcement of Zack Snyder's Justice League debuting on HBO Max ended the two-and-a-half-year #ReleasetheSnyderCut movement that pushed for its release. It began when the film first premiered in theaters following reports that Snyder's version of the movie had been heavily altered by Warner Bros. and new director Joss Whedon after Snyder was forced to leave the project due to a family tragedy.
Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. Zack Snyder's Justice League will premiere exclusively on HBO Max in early to mid-2021.
In 2019, The Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani went viral after posting shirtless photos to show off his physical transformation for the Marvel Studios film. Now, months later, the actor discussed the photos' effects on his self-worth and image.
THR spoke with Nanjiani and four other comedians about being funny in the age of COVID-19 and social justice. During the roundtable, he was asked what surprised him about people's reactions to the "'thirsty shirtless' photo.'"
"My aunts saying that they were really proud of me. I did not expect that," he recalled. "Listen, it got so much bigger than I thought it was going to get. If I had known it was going to be like that, I probably wouldn't have done it because, I'll tell you, I have come to hate that picture."
The photos came as a result of Nanjiani's training to play samurai and Bollywood star Kingo Shunen in The Eternals. However, his new physique didn't come without complications.
"Um, I don't want to get into it, but you get a weird body dysmorphia when the whole world is concentrating on how you look," he continued. "And listen, I am very, very grateful and I put those pictures out for a reason, right? I did that because I wanted that reaction, obviously. But then when you get that reaction, it's a little weird. "You're like, 'People are really judging little bits of your physical being.' And I know a lot of people have it a lot worse than me, but it makes you feel naked and I became shallow. I got obsessed with how I look and then all I would see are what I perceive as flaws."
Directed by Chloé Zhao with a screenplay by Matthew and Ryan Firpo, The Eternals stars Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Gemma Chan as Sersi and Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, aka the Black Knight. The film arrives in theaters Feb. 12, 2021.
Dragon Ballfeatures a diverse array of characters; many of them are not only from different parts of Earth, but they're also from different corners of the galaxy! Akira Toriyama decided to take things a step further in Dragon Ball Zby introducing Future Trunks, Vegeta and Bulma's son from the future, complicating the storyline by introducing a character that was now from a completely different time!
While fans got the chance to really get to know Future Trunks, they also met Trunks of the present-day who, as expected, is a completely different person due to his less apocalyptic upbringing. The two might be genetically identical, but there's a ton of things that Kid Trunks can do that his future counterpart can't yet accomplish, as well as several things that Future Trunks can do that his pint-sized clone can never dream of.
10 Kid Trunks: Can Train/Hang Out With His Father
Due to Future Trunks' intervention, the Z-Fighters were prepared for the arrival of the androids, allowing them to survive their battles against Androids 17, 18, and Cell. Vegeta was able to survive for much longer than he did in the future, enabling Kid Trunks to grow up with a father in the home.
Since Vegeta was killed back when Future Trunks was just an infant, he didn't get the privilege of being able to train with his father or go on vacations with him. And even if Future Trunks died, he wouldn't be able to hang out with Future Vegeta in the afterlife either, since this version of Vegeta was still mostly an evil man who would've definitely been sent to Hell by King Yemma.
9 Future Trunks: Can Travel Through Time
In theory, Kid Trunks could travel through time too, but in Dragon Ball Super, Beerus and Whis proved to be watching the Z-Fighters closely, and threatened Bulma with harsh consequences should she try to create a Time Machine. Future Trunks, on the other hand, was able to travel through time due to the machine that his mother built him using technology that didn't exist in the present.
Though he most likely won't be using his Time Machine to travel back to the present any time soon, he can theoretically do so any time he wants, while Kid Trunks is just stuck in the present like everyone else.
8 Kid Trunks: Can Perform The Fusion Dance With Someone
Kid Trunks and Goten can successfully perform the Fusion Dance because they are of the same species and possesses similar sizes, ages, and power levels. Even if Future Gohan were still alive, he and Future Trunks wouldn't be able to fuse due to Gohan being so much older than him.
He could definitely fuse with someone using the Potara, but then again, who on Earth in his time is worth even fusing with?
7 Future Trunks: Can Ascend Past Super Saiyan
Despite mastering Super Saiyan at such a young age, Kid Trunks hasn't yet ascended past this transformation. Sure, Gotenks can become a Super Saiyan 3 in a heartbeat, but that's due to the large power boost that Fusion grants to the fused being. On his own, Kid Trunks' body might not be ready for that kind of power. Future Trunks, on the other hand, not only figured out how to utilize the Super Saiyan Third Grade transformation back in Dragon Ball Z, but he'd mastered Super Saiyan 2 in Dragon Ball Super. By the end of the conflict with Zamasu and Goku Black, he'd gained access to a mysterious new transformation known as Super Saiyan Rage, enabling him to hold his own against his divine opponents.
Of course, Kid Trunks can achieve all of these transformations, but his dependency on Fusion, as well as the safety net of his father and Goku handling any major enemy, will ensure that he isn't pushed in the same way that Future Trunks has been in order to ascend past his limits.
6 Kid Trunks: Can Ride The Nimbus
Although Kid Trunks inherited his parents' cockiness, he's just as innocent as Goten. In the game Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Trunks was even seen riding the Nimbus alongside Goten in the main menu! Future Trunks, by contrast, has lived through a reality where his thoughts revolved around killing Androids 17 and 18.
His lack of hesitance in other fights shows that he won't hesitate to kill, even when his opponents are nowhere near a threat to him (like Frieza and King Cold). The innocence that he needed to be able to ride such a magical cloud has faded long ago.
5 Future Trunks: Can Fight With A Sword
When Future Trunks first arrived on the scene, fans were shocked to see a Saiyan warrior incorporate a weapon into his technique. He used his sword to get the better of Frieza during their encounter and managed to finish off Fused Zamasu with his sword as well.
Kid Trunks was given a sword by the otherworldly warrior known as Tapion during the movie Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon, but it would be a stretch to say that he knows how to use it in combat, since all he did was slice off Hirudegarn's tail, something that any Z-Fighter would pretty much be able to pull off had they too been in his shoes.
4 Kid Trunks: Can Use The Kamehameha
In order to stop Bio-Broly's rampage, Goten, Krillin, and Kid Trunks all released Kamehamehas to drench the mutated clone Saiyan in order to cause him to harden. Many fans were shocked that Trunks opted to use a Kamehameha instead of one of his father's moves, but in hanging around Goten and Gohan for so much during his youth, it makes sense that he'd add such an iconic technique to his arsenal.
Future Trunks never got the privilege of seeing Goku in a battle, and since he didn't accompany Future Gohan on most of his fights against the Androids, he never got to see the Kamehameha used in a serious battle until he traveled to the past. After witnessing the technique so many times now, Future Trunks could easily learn the Kamehameha, but with so many other unique skills under his belt, why would he need to?
3 Future Trunks: Can Use The Galick Gun & Final Flash
After training with his father and seeing firsthand just what kind of moves Vegeta had developed over the years, Future Trunks returned in Super, having incorporated his father's special attacks into his own technique. He shocked fans with his repeated use of Vegeta's Galick Gun and Final Flash, a sign of just how much he respected Vegeta.
Kid Trunks, on the other hand, has never been seen using either move (though his Big Tree Cannon is very similar to Vegeta's Final Flash). This isn't to say that Kid Trunks won't learn these moves in the future, but as of now, he probably wouldn't know how to pull them off successfully.
2 Kid Trunks: Can Make Wishes Using The Dragon Balls
Although Kid Trunks hasn't made a personal wish using the Dragon Balls, he has all the tools to do so. Since the Dragon Radar belongs to his mother, he could snag it anytime and locate the Dragon Balls with ease to grant any wish he desired before anyone noticed what he was up to.
Unfortunately for Future Trunks, when Future Piccolo was killed, the Dragon Balls ceased to exist, meaning he'll never know the feeling of gathering all seven wish-granting orbs and fulfilling his deepest desire.
1 Future Trunks: Can Lead A Band Of Rebels
While Kid Trunks is more mature than most kids his age, he's definitely not ready to lead a band of rebels against an extremely powerful foe, as Future Trunks did in his timeline against Goku Black's tyranny. Future Trunks was able to inspire so many Earthlings to charge headfirst into battles against an opponent that could vaporize them with ease.
Kid Trunks is just too young to possess that level of conviction, and since Goku and Vegeta are strong enough to handle anything that threatens Earth, he'll never find himself in such a crucial leadership position.
The Flash has some of the best villains in comics. Called the Rogues, at first glance they look like a bunch of refugees from the Silver Age with names that pretty much describe what they do. However, they are honestly a lot cooler than their sort of lame names and sometimes lackluster abilities would lead one to believe.
Their costumes designs are also really great... for the most part. Some of these characters debuted a long time ago and their design aesthetic is outdated and others just plain don't look very good. Which Rogues have great looks? Which ones need a makeover?
10 We Love: Mirror Master
There have been two different Mirror Masters who have fought the Flash, Sam Scudder, and Evan McCulloch, but both have used the same great costume design. There have been times when artists have tried to change the costume but it always goes back to the classic design.
The green and orange color scheme looks great and the skull cap mask gives the whole thing a nice, sinister vibe. Mirror Master looks great, which makes sense for someone who spends as much time in and around mirrors as he does.
9 Needs A Makeover: Magenta
Magenta was once Wally West's girlfriend when he was a Teen Titan who developed magnetic powers and, eventually, a mental illness. She started life as a hero but her mental illness eventually turned her bad, causing her to battle the Flash. She has also one of the most lackluster costumes imaginable.
While it does include the color that she took her name from, so it fits a theme, it doesn't leave any impact. It just feels like she got a bunch of magenta and silver fabric and decided to put it together in unimaginative ways.
8 We Love: Weather Wizard
At first look, Weather Wizard's collar seems super lame. However, the more one looks at the costume, it fits better and better. His costume is pretty much just a simple green bodysuit, so it needs something a little extravagant to make it pop and the disco collar does that perfectly.
The green and yellow color scheme are very nice as well. Most weather manipulating characters don't really use that color scheme, so it's novel and works rather well.
7 Needs A Makeover: Captain Boomerang
Let's just call a spade a spade- Captain Boomerang is overdressed. Is there really any reason he needs a trench coat and a scarf? Does Captain Cold keep the air conditioning way down? Is Central City way colder than it looks? Does the Suicide Squad force him to look as bad as possible? The beanie also completes the unneeded cold weather motif that doesn't really fit him at all.
The only Captain Boomerang that ever had a good costume was the second one and he worked so well because it was a simple- leather jacket and pants with his father's scarf. Since Digger took back the mantle, he's been wearing an overwrought monstrosity of a costume and he needs a change.
6 We Love: The Fiddler
The Fiddler is a super lame Flash villain, so let's that get that out of the way. He's just a skinny dude who plays a magic violin that allows him to control minds and shoot waves of hypersonic force. However, when it comes right down to it, he looks really good while being so lame and that's pretty important.
His tux with tails look fits the idea that one has in their head for a violinist and it goes the extra step of changing the color from a stereotypical black to a nice sickly green. Apparently, green looks great on the Rogues.
5 Needs A Makeover: Murmur
Murmur is a super grimdark villain so he has a super grimdark costume and it's all. So. Bad. His costume is a refugee from a Marilyn Manson knock off band's video- black leather, straps, and buckles; everything that makes the goth aesthetic sort of laughable when its in the wrong hands.
Murmur feels like a villain whose look came first but no one wanted to tell creators Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver that he looked terrible, so they just let it slide. There's a reason no one uses Murmur anymore.
4 We Love: Captain Cold
Captain Cold's costume should be a refugee from the Silver Age that everyone laughs at. However, there's just something about the design that is perfect for the de facto leader of the Rogues. It fits his whole theme- the parka and blue and white color scheme playing perfectly into the whole "dude with a cold gun" thing. His visor is a bit impractical, but the thin line in it makes sense for his motif- it's meant to keep any ice out of his eyes.
Even his New 52 costume, which was historically a pretty blah time for costumes in general and Rogues costumes in general, looked great. Captain Cold is just a snappy dresser.
3 Needs A Makeover: The Trickster
Two different Tricksters have fought the Flash over the years and both of them have looked really bad. Now, sure, a certain amount of ridiculousness in the costume of a guy named the Trickster is to be expected, but the Trickster's costume has always been kind of lackluster.
The color scheme is pretty great and that's what makes it so tragic. The costumes should capture some kind of madcap sense of villainy but the first one feels like a stereotype and the second one feels like someone tried to make a punk rock version of the first without actually making it look good.
2 We Love: Reverse Flash
The Reverse Flash's costume is pretty much perfect. It fits his name perfectly- the Reverse Flash's costume is just the Flash's costume reversed. The yellow instead of the red gives the whole thing a sickly look, representing the evil of the Reverse-Flash and his lightning bolt is darker than the Flash's, taking a symbol of good and twisting it.
The Reverse Flash's costume does everything right- it fits his name and it makes him look evil. There's really not much more one can ask for in a villain's costume.
1 Needs A Makeover: Zoom
Zoom was the Reverse Flash of the Wally West Flash years and as such, his costume was pretty cool. However, once Eobard Thawne came back as the Reverse-Flash, it just felt weird to have two people running around in the exact same costume. The only difference between the two costumes are the eyes and something needs to be done about that.
Zoom doesn't need a new costume because he is lame- it's not. He needs a new costume to set him apart from the Reverse-Flash.
The characters from Mob Pyscho 100are all so fun and unique and have differentiating roles that totally add to their characters. For example, Mob has his middle school friends who are all apart of different clubs based on their passions. As the series goes on, Mob makes more and more friends with a number of different people. Those who are enemies become close allies, leaving way for new threats to ensue.
Because each of the characters in the series is so utterly unique (and strangely dynamic even with little screentime), it becomes easy to see which Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® they each fall into. The personality types are divided into 16 categories and are always a combination of Introvert (I) and Extrovert (E), Intuitive (N) or Observant (S), Feeling (F) or Thinking (T), and finally Prospecting (P) or Judging (J). Here is which Mob Psycho 100 character you would be, based on your MBTI®.
10 Tome - INTP, The Logician
As the Logician, Tome has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, which is kind of her entire character's premise in the series. She is the club leader of the Telepathy Club and strongly believes that psychic powers exist. Her goal is to be able to learn how to use telepathic communication so that she can reach out and speak to aliens. She is always coming up with new ideas for the club and herself to achieve their goals and is constantly on the hunt for more espers.
9 Musashi - ISFJ, The Defender
As the president of the Body Improvement Club, many fans and characters assumed Musashi and his gang would simply be a bunch of meatheads who liked to workout. However, he is just all about self-improvement and constantly acts as a support to Mob. He goes to save and defend him when Mob is kidnapped by Black Vinegar Mid. and defeats all of the students in his way. Musashi displays these kinds of traits quite frequently with his friends making him the perfect ISFJ. He is warm-hearted and always ready to protect and help those in need, especially those he cares about.
8 Ritsu - ISTJ, The Logistician
Ritsu goes through some ups and downs throughout the series. Though he excels at almost everything, he becomes a bit jealous of Mob's esper powers and tries to tap into his own, in order to make them (and himself) stronger than his brother. He admits that he feels afraid of Mob's power and doubts Mob's control over it.
Ritsu often deals with facts and probability, like an ISTJ. As only a first-year, he already is on the student council and excels in all of his academics. He is incredibly intelligent and just wants to be reliable for his family in case Mob loses control.
7 Teru - ENFP, The Campaigner
While Teru started out as one of the main antagonists of the series, after being defeated by Mob he quickly decided to befriend the boy. Teru makes for the perfect ENFP. He is enthusiastic (maybe a little too much), creative and sociable. He has just a ton of friends in Black Vinegar Mid and easily befriends Mob and company after attacking them. He is extremely eccentric and comical and seems to always have a reason to smile. He actively, now, tries to help people who seem like they are succumbing to pride like he once did.
6 Mezato - ENTP, The Debater
Mezato is part of the News Club, a club she takes extremely seriously. Mezato wants to be a reporter and always wants to get the latest news for the school's newspaper. She is smart and curious and never can resist learning some new information. Because of these traits, she makes a perfect ENTP. She constantly is willing to put herself, and others, in danger in order to get a headline. She counters people and has a bold personality to match.
5 Tenga - ISFP, The Adventurer
Tenga definitely has two sides to him. One that he wants the world to see, how he seems to want to be perceived, and one that is just for himself. Tenga pretends to be a typical school delinquent and is the leader of delinquents in Salt Middle, and though he tries to convey his attitude as such, his actions often reflect otherwise. He rarely misses school and actually does super well in classes. He also dreams of becoming a mangaka, something he finds totally embracing about himself. Because of these traits, he is the perfect ISFP, known as the Adventurer or the Artist. He is totally an introvert but doesn't shy away from trying new things like the Body Improvement Club.
4 Tsubomi - ESFJ, The Consul
While Tsubomi gets pretty little air time, fans know that she is the most popular girl in school and overall is a pretty nice girl, which is the main reason Mob likes her (other than how pretty he finds her). Her popularity and kind nature makes her an excellent fit for an ESFJ.
ESFJs are super caring and social, they're always willing to help others and overall are just really popular people due to their kind natures.
3 Dimple - ESFP, The Entertainer
Dimple, another character than went from being one of the main antagonists to a main protagonist, is an excellent ESFP. He is spontaneous, energetic, and quite enthusiastic (especially while trying to manipulate Mob). He comes off as trying to be the bad guy he once was but has shown time and time again that he does care for Mob and Reigen in his own special way. He constantly makes them (and the viewers) laugh as a comic-relief, while also knowing exactly when it's time to get serious.
2 Reigen - ESTP, The Entrepreneur
Reigen is a literal entrepreneur, which ultimately makes him a perfect ESTP. He is incredibly people smart and always knows how to manipulate them in order to get his way. He is extremely perceptive and knows how to use that to further advance his tactics. Reigen has an interesting character because while he is one of the main protagonists and ultimately wants to see Mob succeed, he also is constantly scamming and lying to people for their money. However, he is lovable regardless and is often a fan favorite of the series.
1 Mob - INFP, The Mediator
Mob has pretty low self-esteem and just wants to do right with his powers. He isn't physically strong, which is why he joins the Body Improvement Club, but his esper powers are unmatched. Mob is a perfect INFP. He is extremely kind and always wants to help those in need, as much as he can. He relies heavily on his feelings, hence his constant countdown to a telekinetic explosion. Like an INFP, Mob is shy but has an inner flame and passion of making people, and himself, happy.
My Hero Academia boasts a variety of strong quirks capable of incredible things, and not all powers are created equal. From dazzling audiences to leveling city blocks, some meta abilities stand out as truly extraordinary.
However, these quirks would not be half as powerful without the person behind them; in fact, in certain cases, they're even useless. It's time to unravel some tremendous superpowers that would be nothing without the minds and bodies of the characters supporting them, acknowledging the competence and skill of their users.
10 Twice - Double
Jin's "Double" seems like the perfect weapon, simultaneously useful for offense, defense, and creative teamwork. Twice can copy himself or his colleagues, whose copies can them duplicate themselves again. This is particularly useful for villains with tremendous destructive potential like Dabi.
However, it comes with a stipulation; Twice must know the sizes of the person he attempts to recreate to successfully clone them. Therefore, if an ordinary person was bestowed with this quirk and suddenly expected to use it, it's unlikely that they could even copy themselves, let alone anyone else.
9 Stain - Bloodcurdle
Stain's quirk, "Bloodcurdle," paralyzes his victims after he has tasted their blood. Though this may seem useful to an average person in a fight, Chizome possesses qualities which make it terrifying
Namely, his athleticism and serrated weaponry grant his skills viability against more visually impressive foes like Todoroki. His elongated tongue is conducive to licking the blood from his weapon and does not force him to commit much to leaning into his sword tip (where he would be the most vulnerable). Without Stain's skills as a warrior and depravity as an individual, it would not be useful in most situations.
8 Mirio - Permeation
Mirio's "Permeation" allows him to phase any part of his body through anything at any time. As a result, he is able to defeat several henchmen even while disoriented and annihilate the entirety of Class 1-A in a fight.
However, the skill to use it is unappreciated. Permeation requires technique to master, and if used improperly, one can fall into the center of the earth. It is why Mirio's father did not explicitly encourage his son into hero work and another example of senior's unfailing courage in the face of danger.
7 Momo Yaoyorozu - Creation
Momo's quirk "Creation" is unimaginably powerful. She can conjure anything she wants with her body at the expense of energy (eliciting a robust food intake, much like her classmate, Sato).
It's not as fun of a quirk to practice as one might think. She must fundamentally understand the particle composition and density of every object she hopes to create. In the hands of an average person where this information may either be difficult to understand or retain, they would not be able to apply it as fluidly as she does.
6 Eri - Rewind
Eri's "Rewind" is arguably the most useful quirk in the entire anime universe. Concentrating the power of the horn on her forehead, she can rewind time, writing off significant injuries to herself or her allies as if they were a dream.
Such unbridled power comes at a cost; she cannot control her quirk, making it far more of a curse than a utility. When unchecked, Rewind can be a hazard to those around its user and deadly to the people touching her. If Aizawa was not near to disable her quirk, it's likely she would have accidentally killed Midoriya while using it.
5 Mei Hatsume - Zoom
Mei Hatsume's "Zoom" may not bear much combat utility superficially, but it has allowed her to design some of the finest gadgets to have ever left the school's laboratories. A well-known example is Deku's gauntlets, marvelously absorbing the shock his quirk causes and allowing him to channel more power than he would otherwise be able to use.
Being able to focus one's eyes on a certain area would not be nearly as useful without her expertise as an engineer. Like Momo, her intelligence is what makes her quirk special, and without it, it may as well be convenient binoculars.
4 Endeavor - Hellflame
Endeavor's "Hellflame" is a potent quirk that allows him to project flames anywhere on his body. Its intense force was enough to create a solar flare against his Nomu foe, igniting the entire sky and disintegrating the monster's ashes.
Predictably, channeling this immense force raises his body heat. Enji endeavors to use his flames responsibly to counteract this, though an ordinary person might not know the limits of the fire. Should it be used too recklessly, they would have just as much a chance of harming themselves as their opponent.
3 Eraserhead - Erasure
Though Eraserhead's "Erasure" may be crucial to the hero's success (such as saving Tsuyu from Shigaraki and Deku from Eri), it is only viable in a fight under the provision that the person using it is a competent warrior. It puts both combatants on the same level for as long as the quirk user has their eyes open.
Consequently, it isn't applicable in the hands of an average person going up against hardened criminals. Without Aizawa's experience to compliment his quirk, it's barely a support utility.
2 All For One - All For One
The ability to steal quirks makes All For One the deserving Symbol of Evil to Japan's underworld. However, the quirk individually is weak; it compounds with every victory he attains over stronger opponents, eventually snowballing into an unstoppable juggernaut.
Nonetheless, if whoever is given All For One is careless with the quirk, they would be defeated before they would have the chance to steal anything and begin their progression in power. It is only effective because its host knows how to navigate delicate social situations and win the hearts of his followers.
1 Izuku Midoriya - One For All
Midoriya's slow mastery of One For All has been a focal point of the series, especially in its earlier half. As the quirk grows in strength with every passing user, it also becomes more difficult to control, to the extent where Deku had to train vigorously under All Might to survive even using it once.
In unprepared hands, a robust application of One For All would blow a normal person's limbs clean off. Much of the quirk revolves around restraint, making it a deadly liability to someone unprepared to use it.
If there's one thing there's no shortage of in Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, it's powerful fire benders. Whether they be friend or foe, good or evil, or even something in-between, ‘Airbender’ showcases heroes and villains with huge potential and honed technique, causing the hearts of the toughest warriors to tremble with fear.
Who are these powerful beings and what makes them so dreadfully dangerous? And, more importantly, how to they match up against each other in terms of rank? Keep reading because this is CBR's list of the ten most dangerous Fire Nation members, ranked.
10 Jeong Jeong
Jeong Jeong is a powerful fire bender who turned rogue, defecting from the Fire Nation army before the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Jeong Jeong was both the teacher of Aang and Zhao and a legend among the ranks due to his inclusion in the Order of the White Lotus -- a secret society bent on transcending the boundaries of the Four Nations.
So what makes Jeong Jeong so dangerous? Well, let's start with the fact that the man is a master fire bender and retired admiral in Fire Nation's navy. Not only this, but Jeong Jeong helped lead the liberation of Ba Sing Se during his time with the White Lotus. Even though Jeong turned from his wicked ways long ago, he is still a deadly force in the Avatar universe. Thankfully one for good.
9 Ozai
Next on the list is third generation Fire Lord and father of Zuko and Azula himself, Ozai. Ozai is a powerful ruler with a lust for conquest. Steadfast and proud, it's no wonder he makes the list of most dangerous fire benders in the Avatar franchise.
Ozai is also considered one of the most powerful fire benders in the world, a man who literally conquered the known planet at the tail end of the Hundred Year War. However, unlike many of the other entries in this list, Ozai is rarely seen battling other opponents, opting instead for sending his vast armies and assassins to completely destroy Fire Nation's enemies.
8 Avatar Roku
The mere fact that Roku was an Avatar destines him for this list. Roku was born as a member of the Fire Nation and displayed powerful abilities as a child -- abilities which he quickly mastered in true prodigious fashion.
Despite being a member of the instigating statehood during the Hundred Year War, Roku was a peace-loving monk who later appeared before Aang, offering to help the boy overthrow the world's oppressors. Roku was ultimately killed many years before 'Airbender', slain by his dear friend and confidant, Fire Lord Sozin.
7 Sozin
Speak of the devil, Sozin is the Fire Lord who started it all, kicking off the Hundred Year War with a jealous lust for land, riches, and glory. Sozin is bloodthirsty, ruthless, and tyrannical, christening the war of the ages with the genocide of Aang's own Air Nomad tribe.
Sozin also wields the infamous Sozin's Comet -- a devastating attack that sets entire cities ablaze in an instant. The technique itself is the result of a special comet that passes by the earth every one hundred years. When the comet draws close enough to our planet's atmosphere, Sozin draws from the energy of the celestial object and wields at will. In other words, it's an atomic bomb in the hands of a madman.
6 Prince Zuko
The exiled son of Fire Lord Ozai, Prince Zuko is one of the strongest fire benders in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Despite being born with less potential than his immediate counterparts, Zuko's rage and drive to prove himself pushes him to achieve greater levels of power (akin to Vegeta in Dragonball Z).
Zuko eventually becomes even more powerful after joining Aang, Sokka, and Katara in later seasons, casting aside his anger in exchange for the ability to bend rainbow fire from the breath of dragons. Zuko's arc finishes with him becoming a true force to be reckoned with.
5 Azula
Daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and sister of Prince Zuko, Azula is one of the evilest fire benders in Avatarland. Ruthless, skilled, and cunning just like her father, she dominates in the art of wielding flames, ready to kill anyone and anything at a moment's notice. Because of this, all live in fear of her wrath.
In conjunction with this, Azula is also a brilliant politician and a brutal tactician. She has no problem committing heinous acts like framing her own brother for personal gain, or for Cirsei-ing it up in the political sphere if it means achieving her goals. And when it comes to a straight-up fight, Azula knows few equals.
4 Azulon
There's a reason Azulon is revered among those loyal to Fire Nation. Grandfather of Prince Zuko and father to Ozai, Azulon's lethality comes not from his ability to wield fire, but in his engineering genius to make machines of war.
Under Azulon's rule, tanks, warships, and other machines of destruction were developed to further Fire Nation's success in the Hundred Year War. Because of his inventions, Water Nation was brought to the brink of extinction and Earth Nation strongholds were breached and conquered.
3 Iroh
We can't talk about power rankings and not include the man who led the siege of Ba Sing Se himself, the Fire Nation's own General Iroh. Despite his kind and gentle nature, Iroh is one of the most terrifying fire benders in the Avatar saga -- even if much of his horrendous acts took place before the pilot episode.
During his time as general in the Fire Nation military, Iroh has conquered kings and kingdoms, destroying all who stand in the way. Iroh has learned many life lessons since his younger days as a dreaded military force, but don't be fooled by his grandfather-like demeanor or kind spirit. In fact, it's because of this Iroh scores the top three deadliest fire benders in 'Last Airbender.'
2 Aang
Perhaps the most unconventional entry in this list is Avatar Aang, the chief protagonist of the Avatar: The Last Airbender television series. Even though Aang is not a member of Fire Nation per se, he is without a doubt the most powerful fire bender in the show, making him a prime suspect for the list of greats.
If he desired it, Aang could be the most terrifying force on the planet, unleashing devastating fury on his foes. However, fortunately for the rest of us, Aang is a kind and gentle soul filled with compassion, mercy, and grace.
1 Korra
Now fans might be wondering why Korra has been ranked higher than Aang but there's a good reason for it. Although Aang is indeed perhaps the strongest of the fire-bending-capable characters in the Avatar universe, he is not the most dangerous due to his good nature and pure heart.
Korra, on the other hand, is a different story. True, Korra is generally good-natured and heroic as well, she also comes with more foibles than Aang and is prone to hot-headed outbursts, making her temper a much more fearsome force among the Four Nations. Korra is that of Anakin Skywalker teetering on the edge of light and darkness, and with the right nudge in the wrong direction, the world could once again know true terror.
There are many supervillains out there who are considered laughing stocks due to their lame gimmicks, examples include the Condiment King or Turner D. Century. There are, however, some villains that can still be threatening despite having a lame gimmick. Some villains did this in their first appearance, while others were revamped to be more threatening.
In the case of the Marvel Universe, some of these villains have become some of its most infamous bad guys. This article will examine ten villains from Marvel Comics that worked as threatening villains despite having a gimmick that can be considered by some as lame.
10 Mysterio
With his fishbowl looking helmet and title as master of illusions, Mysterio is a villain hard to take seriously. However, he has shown on several occasions that he can use convincing special effects to be a dangerous villain. One occasion was in Guardian Devil, where he uses his mastery of illusions and manipulations to bring Daredevil to the brink of madness.
The most dangerous incarnation of Mysterio would be the one seen in Old Man Logan. The story reveals that the reason that this timeline version of Logan did not fight against the Red Skull's army of supervillains was a result of him being tricked by Mysterio into seeing the X-men as various villains. This illusion leads to Wolverine killing the entirety of the X-men and students at Xavier's mansion.
9 Mad Jim Jasper
Mad Jim Jasper is a clear lesson in judging a villain by appearances alone. Appearing as an ordinary middle-aged man with a bizarre sense in fashion, he is also hard to take him seriously. Especially when he leads a gang of criminals dressed up as characters from Alice in Wonderland called the Crazy Gang. He is, however, one of the greatest threats to the multiverse itself.
The reason that Mad Jim Jasper is a threat is that he can warp reality at will. This power combined with him being completely insane makes him a dangerous villain. In his first appearance, he warped Britain into becoming a fascist dystopia that he ruled as its supreme ruler. He would later threaten the multiverse itself on several occasions.
8 Kraven The Hunter
Kraven is a villain that should not work, as a big game hunter seems a strange choice for a villain for an urban-based superhero. Kraven has, however, become one of Spider-man's most fearsome foes. This is a result of his skills as a hunter being applied in ways that work in an urban environment. He uses traps and tracking techniques in a manner that makes him a more cerebral foe for Spider-Man to face.
This can be seen in the storyline Kraven's Last Hunt where he nearly killed Spider-Man and impersonated him. As Spider-Man, Kraven was able to operate quite well as a vigilant, having taken out a bunch of criminals before Spider-Man confronted him and he took his own life. After returning from the dead, Kraven has on several occasions nearly taken down Spider-Man.
7 Madcap
Madcap is a case of a villain being introduced in the wrong character's rogue gallery. Madcap was introduced as a Captain America villain who was driven crazy by an A.I.M chemical agent seeking to cause insanity in others. While he has a threatening M.O., Madcap was limited by his silly costume and bubble gun.
Madcap would, however, become an actual threat when he joined Deadpool's rogue gallery. In Gerry Duggan's run on Deadpool, it was revealed that Deadpool was fused with Madcap during Daniel Way's run on the title. This experience made Madcap now hungry for vengeance against Deadpool leading to Madcap impersonating Deadpool to discredit him as a superhero.
6 Jester
The Jester is usually brought up as one of Daredevil's sillier Silver Age villains, thanks to him being a criminal that dresses up like a jester and commits pranks during his crimes. He has, however, been a dangerous threat on several occasions. The first was in a storyline in 1976 when he manipulated the population of New York City by creating a bunch of fake newscasts. This would begin a plot to frame Daredevil for murder and create chaos in New York City through his fake news.
Mark Waid's run on Daredevil sees the Jester move back to this depiction when he fakes his death to frame Daredevil for murder. This leads Daredevil to deal with a massive anti-Daredevil campaign and the Sons of the Serpent using this campaign to publicly try to take him down.
5 M.O.D.O.K
M.O.D.O.K is a villain whose silly appearance hides the fact that he can be a very dangerous villain. Despite being a massive head with a tiny body, M.O.D.O.K was A.I.M's ruthless commander on several occasions. An A.I.M scientist mutated by the organization to study the Cosmic Cube, M.O.D.O.K used his enhanced intelligence to take over A.I.M and become its new Scientist Supreme.
More recently, he formed the organization Intellgencia composed of the world's greatest mad scientists. This organization would serve as the main villain of World War Hulks, where M.O.D.O.K played a major role in mutating most of the world's superheroes into Hulk-like monsters.
4 The Hood
On paper, a villain who is a street thug with a mystic cloak would not have the making of a villain capable of taking on the Avengers. The Hood proves that assessment wrong. Parker Robbins was a petty criminal who came across a cloak from the Dark Dimension and began his rise into replacing the Kingpin as the new head of crime in New York City
The Hood would then organize a massive army of supervillains to take on the New Avengers on several occasions. He would also become a member of Norman Osborn's Cabal alongside Doctor Doom and Loki. After the collapse of Osborn's regime, The Hood would threaten the Avengers on several other occasions, most memorably he was the first person to use the Infinity Gauntlet since the 1990s.
3 Mister Sinister
Despite the silly-sounding name and glam rocker meets Dracula appearance, Mister Sinister has been one of the X-men's viler foes. Mister Sinister is the man behind many of the foes that the X-Men have faced. Most infamously, he ordered the Marauder to wipe out the Morlocks, due to them possibly being created by someone who stole his research.
Beyond that, Mister Sinister has done many horrible things in the name of advancing the study of Mutants. From committing a bunch of deadly experiments to manipulating the Summer bloodline to create Cable. Most recently he has formed an alliance with the Mutant nation of Krakoa with a secret agenda of his own.
2 Bullseye
Bullseye initially seemed doomed to be regarded as a lame villain. He was a villain with a strange dartboard inspired costume and could simply throw things well. Frank Miller's run on Daredevil, however, turns him into one of Daredevil's most deadly foes. This was done by empathizing with his psychopathic nature, who killed Elektra out of a personal jealous of her being the Kingpin's assassin instead of him.
From then on, Bullseye has been established as the Marvel Universe's most premier assassin facing off against a variety of superheroes. His ability to throw things well has also been turned into him being able to kill a person with any object that he possibly throw.
1 Green Goblin
Green Goblin is Spider-Man's most well-known foe and seems an odd choice for a villain that could be considered lame. However, thinking about it on paper, a man dressed as goblin flying around on glider while throwing bombs shape like a pumpkin is not the most intimidating idea for a supervillain.
The Green Goblin, however, easily proves this initial impression is wrong with him being portrayed as an intelligent and insane super-villain. On many occasions, the Green Goblin has attempted to ruin Spider-Man's life. From killing Gwen Stacy to infecting his grandson with the Carnage symbiote, Green Goblin has attempted to ruin the life of Peter Parker and the people around him.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most well-known, and contentious, anime out there. While it’s beloved for its amazing musical cues, its incredible animation, and the wild storytelling that sets it apart from other mecha anime, it also has an ending that fans debate about to this day, which led to Gainax creating accompanying movies for the series to offer alternate endings.
But there are a lot of interesting things about the series that fans might not know or realize, especially regarding the way that it was made and the ideas that creator Hideaki Anno made sure to include in it.
10 The Name
Neon Genesis Evangelion is made up of three Greek words. It translates literally into English as “New Century Gospel.” It’s a unique and heavy name for what is ultimately a series about giant robots fighting monsters, but that says a lot about the themes that the series has such a name. Anno had originally pitched the name Alcion, which is both the Spanish word for the kingfisher bird and a translation of the word “halcyon,” which means an idyllic or happy time.
9 Religious Symbolism And Iconography
A lot of people have tried to decipher over the years just what kinds of religious statements the series is trying to make, particularly with regards to Christianity. This is partially because of the series’ name, which refers directly to Christianity and also because of the fact that the monsters they fight are called Angels. But there’s actually iconography present from a lot of different kinds of religious traditions: Shintoism, Kabbalah, Judaism, Gnosticism, and many others.
8 The Ending Changed Dramatically
As the series’ production continued, Anno became very interested in psychoanalysis and wanted to use the series to reflect some of those themes. Much of the series was adjusted or changed as it went, due to Anno’s changing understanding of what he wanted the series to be like. The ending deals a lot with the more psychoanalytic ideas, taking place mostly inside of Shinji’s head and using self-reflection as a narrative device.
7 Aum Shinrikyo
The initial plot was a lot more realistic and took some cues from modern warfare and life in Japan. But after the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway by the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo, they decided to downplay these more realistic features of the series.
Anno has stated that the series is actively critical of Aum Shinrikyo and their doomsday prophecies and is meant to take a more hopeful view of the world.
6 Initially Meant To Have A Female Protagonist
This might be surprising to learn, since Shinji is such a well-known and iconic character in anime, but originally, he was not meant to be the main character. There was some talk of actually featuring a female main character, which would be very unusual in a mecha series, since most are shonen anime geared at young boys. Rei was meant to play a much bigger role, and the original plan for the first episode actually introduced her and saw her inside an EVA unit long before meeting Shinji.
5 Anno Was Depressed Before Making The Series
Anno was slightly down on his luck prior to the making of Evangelion, having completed work on one series and seen another one fail while it was in pre-production. He was feeling down, and when King Records gave him the opportunity to make whatever he wanted with them, he took the chance. He decided to create a series that spoke to and reflected the feelings of depression that he was feeling at the time, exploring issues of mental health.
4 Characters Reflect Anno’s Personality
The characters in Evangelion are the most memorable part of the series. Particularly beloved are Rei, Asuka, and Shinji, the three main pilots and therefore main protagonists. Anno has said that he imbued each of these characters with a small piece of his personality, so that when put together, they made up a person, specifically himself. This plays a lot into the ideas of the Human Instrumentality Project, which wants to see all souls merged in order to unify humanity.
3 Its Influences
Evangelion draws heavily from mecha anime and its tropes, which is clear to any fan who is also a fan of mecha anime. In particular, Mobile Suit Gundam is heavily reflected in the storytelling of the series.
But also visible are influences from series like Battleship Yamato, Devilman, and Ultraman, all of which Anno looked to for inspiration during the creation of the series.
2 Created By Gainax
Gainax and King Records collaborated to produce Neon Genesis Evangelion, though Gainax, Anno’s production company, led the team on its production. Gainax notably created Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, which was also a particular project of Hideaki Anno’s, and would go on to create other cult hits of the mecha and sci-fi anime genres, in particular FLCL and Gurren Lagann.
1 Subverts Mecha Tropes
Evangelion plays on the popular tropes often seen in mecha anime. Particularly present in Mobile Suit Gundam are the tropes of a saintly father who is also an inventor (particularly of Gundams) and a son who is an extroverted pilot, ready to leap into battle. Evangelion’s intention was to subvert these tropes by giving Gendo the role of inventor who is more concerned about his own creation than the wellbeing of his son and making Shinji an introverted, hesitant pilot who doesn’t necessarily want to participate.
Since his last appearance as Captain America, in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, Chris Evans has been busy in other projects, but he still thinks well of his days in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In a Backstage magazine interview, Evans expressed, "I absolutely loved my time with Marvel; I already miss it." Still, with Captain America and the MCU behind him, Evans said, "there's no denying that it is very exciting to just have complete freedom to pursue whatever my creative appetite wants."
He went on to describe how daunting it was for him to accept the role of Captain America, both because of fan expectations and his own desire to do it well. He stated, "Audiences are part of what will make [these films] work, and I owe that group my understanding of what they see." Evans undertook extensive preparation, reading all he could about the character and then using that material to inform his acting choices.
In his post-MCU career, Evans co-starred in the comedy/mystery Knives Out and led the Apple+ miniseries Defending Jacob. Since 2011, he appeared in three Captain America films, three Avengers films and cameos in Thor: The Dark World, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Ant-Man and Captain Marvel.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Negan Lives!, from Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn and Rus Wooton, on sale now.
It's a tough time for fans of The Walking Dead. The television show's season finale was delayed, and the comic book came to an abrupt end last year. However, comic readers got another chance to spend more time in the zombie apocalypse this week, because series creator Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard returned to The Walking Dead's world to revisit one of the franchise's most popular characters in the one-shot Negan Lives!
The story, set sometime after "The Whisperer War," finds Negan in mourning. After burying his iconic barbed-wire-wrapped baseball bat Lucille, the once-boisterous man leaves flowers at its grave, as a tribute to his late wife, the real Lucille.
For him, his baseball bat was just a simulacrum and the namesake of his dead wife, who he believes is probably out in the world somewhere, shambling around as a mostly skeletal zombie, more skeleton than human. However, Negan Lives! gives Negan a new friend, and she just happens to be named Lucy, too.
At the start of this special, Negan's existence is a far-cry from the life he led as leader of the Saviors. He scrapes by on paltry vegetables. His depression is profound, and though he wants to die, he can't bring himself to end it. That's a big part of why he's so startled to find a Lucy standing in his kitchen. She's friendly, and Negan isn't sure that she's real at first, and his doubt only grows when she reveals that her name is Lucy. With his wife a zombie and his bat buried, Negan can't believe that fate conspired to put him alongside another person named Lucille, or Lucy in this girl's case.
Negan and Lucy share a meal of grilled rabbit and discuss the realities of the zombie apocalypse, how normal the abnormal can become when faced with so few options. Negan reveals that he was surrounded by zombies and acted like it was no big deal just five days into civilization's collapse. The pair bond, and Negan even apologizes for all the cursing.
In the mood lighting of the grill fire, Lucy begins flirting with Negan, and he recognizes the artificiality of the situation and that she's part of a larger effort to trap him. When he calls her out, Lucy's partners spring from the dark and attack. Against Lucy's protests, her partners struggle to kill Negan, despite his lack of resistance. He barely puts up a fight, but they still can't finish the job.
When they force him to dig a grave beside Lucille, Negan explains that his grave is too close to Lucille's; he's afraid of accidentally digging her up. The men are unsympathetic, even though at first they believe a human is buried there. When the men learn a baseball bat has been laid to rest, and the symbolic power the grave holds for Negan, they make fun of him.
At that moment the zombies dash from the shadows. Luckily for Negan and Lucy, the creatures attack the other men first, but when a zombie gets hold of their leader, Negan kills the zombie and then gruesomely kills the man himself. In the aftermath, Negan makes a decision to live his life once again, instead of just waiting around for death. He's going to go find his wife and finally put her to rest, and he invites Lucy to come along.
The book ends with a potential tease about Negan's future adventures, which Kirkman says may or may not ever be seen in the letters column. However, we already have some idea of what happens to Negan, thanks to The Walking Dead #193. After the time-jump in that issue, Negan moved to Springhaven, where the real Lucille did ultimately get a tombstone.
While there's certainly a chance that Lucy could have made it to Springhaven too, there's no telling what actually happened to her. If Negan's adventures ever do continue in some format, the question of her survival would likely be of paramount concern.
For now, this comic ends with Negan teasing, almost taunting readers about the promise of his upcoming adventures. With no other public plans for further Walking Dead comics, that tease may very well be the last word on The Walking Dead comic book universe.
You Should Have Leftis the latest release from Blumhouse, written and directed by Hollywood legend David Koepp, starring Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried. The story follows a married couple and their young daughter as they take a family vacation to a mysterious, secluded home in the Welsh countryside, but things go wrong. The film is a mind-bending thriller that focuses on internal conflicts manifesting in real world terrors. A labor of love from Koepp, the film has connections to other horror movies, like the ones below.
Rosemary's Baby is about Rosemary and her struggling actor husband Guy, who move into a new apartment building. After becoming pregnant, Rosemary begins to believe something sinister is going on with their strange, overly involved neighbors. Rosemary turns out to be right with the building's tenants being part of a satanic cult, who have conspired with Guy to have Rosemary mother the Devil's baby.
David Koepp has said that he was inspired by domestic horror films when setting out to make You Should Have Left, and Rosemary's Baby is the quintessential domestic horror film. An iconic film that is surprisingly ahead of its time in regards to its themes about motherhood and gaslighting, Rosemary's Baby is a perfect companion piece to You Should Have Left because both films deal with how the problems at home can manifest into something supernatural and horrific. Both also explore the overwhelming loneliness that comes with a traumatic, isolating event.
Secret Window is the story of Mort, a successful writer going through a painful divorce, who has retreated to a remote cabin to battle writer's block and face off against a stalker who accuses him of plagiarism. Although, it is revealed that not all things are as they initially seem.
Secret Window is also written and directed by David Koepp, and like You Should Have Left, it is adapted from a horror novella. They work well together because the evolution of Koepp's spirit and flair as a filmmaker are clear in both movies. He is able to elevate what could be straight forward stories and brings his unique style when adapting words to screen in an engaging way.
The Shining is also from a work of Stephen King. Troubled Jack Torrance brings his wife Wendy and son Danny to The Overlook Hotel to look after it during the off season. Danny is not just any little boy; he has a special gift called "shining." The hotel has a sinister energy that prays on the family, tearing them apart and torturing their minds.
The Shining, like You Should Have Left, is about a family of three dealing with their internal conflicts turned outward in a remote vacation spot. Both films contain lead male characters with dark pasts struggling to move forward, but they ultimately meet their end when they are forced to confront their failures. Also, both are laden with metaphors and memorable visuals. These factors make the two films unsettling but well matched companion pieces.
Devil, produced by M. Night Shyamalan, is about a group of seemingly ordinary people trapped in an elevator while a police officer investigates a mysterious suicide in the building. The elevator passengers' dark secrets are revealed as the Devil kills them one by one. The Devil is only stopped when one of the trapped victims confesses his sin and gives himself over to the police.
Devil makes the perfect companion piece to You Should Have Left because they both feature the Devil punishing people with a guilty conscience. It is only through confession that the other characters escape the situation alive. Thematically, the two films compliment each other nicely, and they are contained to essentially one location where a situation escalates until the chaos gets out of hand.
The Lodge is a shocking, psychological, horror film about Grace, a woman attempting to bond with her fiance's resistant children. She was raised in a cult and was the sole survivor of a mass suicide at the behest of her father, the cult leader. While celebrating Christmas in a remote cabin, tensions boil over, and Grace's grasp on reality comes crashing down around her to the glee and terror of her soon to be step-children.
The Lodge goes well with You Should Have Left because they both follow characters with traumatic pasts that make them infamous for all the wrong reasons. Both films also deal with the internal guilt and struggle that comes from a disturbing and difficult past, as well as attempting to blend in with a new family. The inability for the characters and the audience to truly determine what is real and what is not also connects the films in a fascinating way.
The summer months are typically a slow time for gaming, but 2020 has been anything but typical. That being said, this is a slower month than usual for new releases on Xbox Game Pass, with only three new games coming to the service.
Still, while the quantity of new releases is low this month, the quality is anything but. On top of that, not too many games are leaving the service, so subscribers should look forward to having plenty of great games to play this month.
A hit weapons-based fighting game, Soulcalibur VI allows players to compete in 3D battles using a roster of 21 characters that includes guest characters like Haohmaru from Samurai Shodown and Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher. If that's not enough, the game also provides 100 slots for you to customize your own characters, which, inevitably, has lead to players making everyone from Futurama's Zoidberg to Thanos to an incredibly disturbing Pikachu.
The game maintains the series' traditional mechanics while also adding mechanics like Reversal Edge, which lets players defend and attack with a slow motion effect. The game was well-received when it launched in 2018, with critics praising the story mode, graphics and new features. If you missed it, now is the perfect time to jump in.
It's been a long time coming, but CrossCode is finally coming to consoles on July 9, and it will be on Game Pass at launch. The game launched in early access way back in 2015, finally receiving a full release on PC in 2018. This month will allow even more players to experience this well-loved 2D action RPG with retro-inspired visuals that look like they were plucked directly off of the SNES.
The game takes place in the world of a fictional MMORPG called CrossWorlds, where protagonist Lea finds herself trapped. As she explores a world full of fast-paced combat and puzzles, Lea must regain her memories and figure out what happened to her. The game is a wonderful indie success story, and Game Pass subscribers, especially those who love games like Secret of Mana and The Legend of Zelda, should definitely check it out.
Fallout 76 is both the most high-profile and most controversial game coming to Game Pass this month. While the game in July 2020 is not the bug-ridden, NPC-less world is was when it launched almost two years ago, Fallout 76 will probably never completely shake its reputation. Still, the game has seen a lot of improvements, and, to its credit, Bethesda Game Studios has worked to address the concerns of critics and fans.
Unlike past Fallout games, Fallout 76 is an online multiplayer RPG where players will have to work together (or against one another) to survive in a nuclear wasteland. This year's Wastelanders update finally added NPCs, a new main quest and factions you'll either side with or oppose. While it may have come a year-and-a-half late for some players, the update provides more reasons to play the game. If you're a Game Pass subscriber who skipped Fallout 76 because of the negative reception it got at launch, consider trying it out in its improved form when it comes to the service on July 9.
As previously stated, there aren't too many games leaving this month, which is good news for subscribers to service that already packed with content and continually growing. There's Blazing Chrome, an indie title full of fast-paced action that pays homage to classic arcade run-and-guns. There's also the survival-horror game Dead Rising 4, which is a solid choice for fans who can't get enough of the genre. Finally, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is leaving this month. This was Hideo Kojima's last game with Konami before contentious split between the two, and regardless of the game's association with the situation, it's still a masterpiece worth checking out.
These games are leaving on July 15, so you still have some time to try them out before they go. And, as always, you'll get a 20 percent membership discount if you decide to purchase any of them while they're still part of Game Pass.
When Henry Cavill was first cast as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix's The Witcher, there was contention over the Man of Steel actor's ability to portray the famed monster hunter, partly due to his physical appearance. This particular issue stems from a single description provided in the novels pertaining to the witcher's smile.
Cavill was recently a guest on Variety and iHearts' The Big Ticket podcast, where he discussed his role in The Witcher and the darkness of the world that Geralt inhabits. He began by noting that the titular witcher does not smile much, "When he does, even in the books, it's called a 'hideous smile.'" Returning to the world itself, Cavill explained, "There is a real grimness to it, but there are moments of light and moments of care and loving and strong familial bonds for people who aren't actually family. Those moments seem all the brighter for the darkness in the world."
Talk then returned to Geralt's smile, "This has been up for much discussion online, especially after I got cast. There's a lot of people saying, 'It says he's hideous, or it says it's an ugly smile,'" Cavill said. He continued, "I always saw it, not necessarily as the person being hideous, but as the intent with the smile." The actor then explained his interpretation of the books' description, "There was something that the smile was trying to achieve that struck horror or made someone feel a certain way."
Geralt of Rivia is depicted in the series as being somewhat taciturn and non-expressive, where the novels depict the character as being slightly more talkative and vocal about his thoughts. However, it is worth noting that in the novels and the show, witchers are perceived by the common folk as being devoid of emotion.
The Witcher stars Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg, Freya Allan as Ciri and Joey Batey as Jaskier. Season 1 is now available on Netflix.
In the debut trailer, Scooby and the gang are seen celebrating Halloween with Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, in a lavish parade through a small town. However, the festivities are interrupted by none other than Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka the classic Batman villain Scarecrow. Having recently escaped from Arkham Asylum, Scarecrow targets the revelers with explosive drones while raising genetically engineering pumpkin monsters using experimental technology.
Fortunately for Mystery, Inc. and Elvira, Bill Nye the Science Guy arrives to save the day, giving the team a futuristic new ride, advising them in the form of a hologram and remotely controlling his own automated systems as the gang flees from Scarecrow's monstrous army.
Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! is helmed by The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy creator Maxwell Atoms, joined by longtime Warner Bros. Animation producer Sam Register in what is sure to be to be a star-studded Halloween celebration.
Written, directed and produced by Maxwell Atoms, Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! stars Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Grey Griffin, Kate Micucci, Dwight Schultz, Cassandra Peterson and Bill Nye the Science Guy. The film arrives on Digital HD, Blu-ray and DVD this fall.
While Aang and his friends faced a lot of different powerful enemies over the course of the series, Avatar: The Last Airbender's main antagonist was Firelord Ozai. The villain -- who was also the father of Zuko and Azula -- sought to conquer more of the world, further throwing off the balance of the four elements. In the end, Aang and his friends defeated Ozai with the help of allies such as the White Lotus, bringing an end to the Fire Nation's stranglehold on the world. However, there's a lot about Avatar: The Last Airbender's Firelords you may not have realized on first viewing. In this video, we're going to explain everything you need to know about them.
We, of course, have to talk about Firelord Sozin, as his actions are what set the Hundred Years War into motion. Sozin was Ozai and Iroh's grandfather, and he was friends with Avatar Roku. However, when Roku rejected Sozin's expansionist desires, which eventually cost him his life. From there, Sozin took advantage of a passing comet and the way it boosted Firebending abilities to commit such horrific acts as wiping out the Air Nomads in an attempt to preempt the new Avatar.
While there have been no new animated series set in the Avatar universe since Legend of Korra concluded in 2014, Dark Horse Comics has published a number of graphic novels set after the conclusions of those shows. The Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra comics further flesh out the world of those two series. There are also novels that further expand that world.
Let us know what you think in the comments, and check out many other deep, thought-provoking videos on our YouTube channel! Don't forget to subscribe and click that bell for notifications of brand new content, posted every day!
WWE is going through its toughest time since the steroid trials of the '90s when it comes to the public perception of the company.
It all started with WWE getting labeled as an "essential business" at the start of the pandemic while the rest of the world sheltered in place. Some argued it was due to the McMahon's political contributions. Then, WWE was hit with up to two dozen positive coronavirus cases for talent and personnel. Finally, the biggest hit came with the #SpeakingOut movement.
The #SpeakingOut movement has brought up a lot of controversial allegations against wrestlers for their past behavior and it has now cost several wrestlers their careers. WWE has already fired more than one wrestler who was named in the allegations. One of its brands has been hit harder than others, though, since the allegations all started with the United Kingdom NXT wrestling scene.
Names like Jordan Devlin, the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion, Ligero, Travis Banks and Joe Coffey were named in the allegations. WWE has released Devlin, Banks and Ligero already. With such a sweeping movement coming through the U.K. wrestling scene -- including some damaging allegations for Paige's parents, who trained several U.K. talents -- WWE is now considering shutting down the entire WWE U.K. brand.
This could officially end the plan for WWE to branch out in other countries. The plans for a Japanese NXT promotion were already shelved for now. This was partially due to the coronavirus pandemic and partially due to competition from companies like New Japan, who have nothing to fear from WWE locally. There were also rumors of an NXT in Mexico, but if NXT U.K. shutters its doors just three years after launching, it could end all ideas of further WWE expansion across the globe.
Some wrestlers, especially names like Pete Dunne -- who has become a key supporter of the #SpeakingOut movement -- will have a home in WWE so long as he moves to the United States to compete in NXT full time, or move up to one of the main roster brands. However, one of NXT U.K.'s top talents, its champion, WALTER, has said repeatedly in the past that he has no intention of moving to the United States. So, if NXT U.K. shuts down, don't expect WWE to retain the big man.
This is something that should be an easy decision, as far as someone like Vince McMahon is concerned. While NXT U.K. has been able to funnel some major stars over to America, including Rhea Ripley and Pete Dunne, the truth is that the company is a financial drain on WWE's resources. The company does not have the chance to make the profit that the U.S. version of NXT does. Plus, there are multiple talents there that might never make their way to America, making it a WWE Network-only promotion -- that means no cable television money either.
The rumors are that an emergency meeting was set up to determine whether or not WWE NXT U.K. was worth keeping around or whether it might just be better to cut bait and let most of its roster go. While this might hurt fans who love the hard-hitting U.K. wrestling action, for WWE, it is always about the bottom line. Between the #SpeakingOut controversy and the lack of financial upside, the days of WWW NXT U.K. might soon be coming to an end.
If you are a U.S.-based victim of sexual assault or misconduct in need of help, contact RAINN at 800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. If you are based outside the U.S., click here for a list of international sexual assault resources
A bevy of new webcomics have hit the indie platform Tapas in June with a wide selection of genres to choose from. Featuring ghosts and surprises, murders and romance, these fresh releases are as varied as they are gripping and are not to be missed. Tapas is an online and mobile-based platform for users to share original content. While many comics are available to read for free, some require a subscription. All are available to read on Tapas.io.
From author and artist Rako, Pan Focus follows Susie Kang, a single, professional woman, as she navigates the complicated world of business while decoding her own thoughts and desires. Constantly approached by interested men, Susie is simply not interested for one reason: her thoughts revolve around two women in her life for whom she carries secret affection. Both melancholy and engaging, Pan Focus is a foray into a mind longing for clarity and to find a place in the world. For mature readers.
The series updates Wednesdays and can be read here.
Qiming Zhang is a former idol who's fallen on hard times, cast aside and assigned to theD-list thanks in part to his rival, Yang Chu. The only thing really standing in the way of a comeback, however, is himself -- literally. An alternate personality resides within the would-be star that is subservient to Chu, which, as one would expect, makes it difficult to best him. Things get a bit dicey when the two are cast in the same series. As shenanigans ensue, Zhang struggles overcome himself and his rival, who's...an emperor in disguise? From Yofox author Lingchunjan and artists Jianzhuangdemaocai, Kakki, Taizi and Limuzi.
The series updates Thursdays and is available to read here.
Mystery is afoot in this BL crime drama with a supernatural twist by Min Qiang and Dong Ye. Ba Song is a driven police officer on the hunt for a killer using the tools at his disposal: his affinity for martial arts and an electrical power that allows him to reveal the mysteries of any body he touches. Famous Forensic Pathologist Bo Shan, a wunderkind and no-nonsense detective, assists Song on his search for answers but it isn't just the crime the duo are investigating. Electricity flies in this flirtatious series for fans of yaoi and murder-mysteries.
The series updates Sundays and is available to read here.
Foreign exchange students Casper and Priyanka have arrived in Bucharest to begin their studies only to find that, beyond the complicated task of learning to live within a new culture, there exists a ghostly world that has begun to haunt them. This comedic take on the ghost story involves a freak accident and the sudden ability to see a so-called Guardian, a spirit assigned to protect Casper from whatever danger may arise. Unfortunately for the recently-arrived student, his Guardian seems to be more interested in living vicariously through his love life. Shu G. Sin and Lutz Geiger's comic is regularly updated.
The punny title gives up the plot for this comic based on the light novel by Lee Jung. Hee-won, devastated by the discovery that her best friends are dating, decides to let off some steam by meeting up with a stranger. The resulting night of passion has consequences, however, as Hee-won discovers that she is pregnant. After a bit of sleuthing, she tracks down her one-time lover. Far be it from Doo-joon to deny culpability, the man wishes to be responsible — but can two total strangers pull it together enough to be parents? Artist Kang Ki brings to life the confused and motivated young would-be couple in this romantic drama.
Positively Yours is updated Fridays and is available to read here.
Initially announced as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, the acclaimed open-world game Horizon: Zero Dawn is coming to PC. Now, Guerrilla Games has unleashed a new trailer for the game to hype its release next month.
The trailer shows Aloy and her people under attack in a post-apocalyptic vision of the 31st century's United States. Additionally, it showcases the title's immersive gameplay, as Aloy navigates the harsh landscape, which is populated by monsters and rival factions.
First released in February 2017, the game was acclaimed for its emphasis on exploration, third-person combat and gripping performances by leads Ashly Burch and Lance Reddick. Critics similarly lauded the Focus feature, which applied to hunting in the game's combat system.
A sequel titled Horizon: Forbidden West was officially announced last month. It will follow Aloy as she moves to the former West Coast of the United States and encounters new threats. The title has been announced as exclusive for the PlayStation 5 and is expected to be released along with the upcoming video game console's launch this holiday season.
Developed by Guerrilla Games, Horizon: Zero Dawn will be released for PC on August 7. The game is currently available on the PlayStation 4.
The official HBO Max Instagram account shared the news, stating, "The full 3-hour Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is now streaming exclusively on HBO Max. Put that long weekend to good use." The streaming service also added all four Christopher Reeve-led Superman films as well as 2006's Superman Returns.
The Ultimate Edition of Batman v Superman offers 30 minutes of extra footage, including a longer scene set in Africa, a cameo from Justice League villain Steppenwolf, an appearance by The Daily Show's Jon Stewart and much more. Additionally, the film is available on 5.1 HD and is not rated on HBO Max.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice originally released in 2016 and introduced Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne, while showing the return of Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent. Also, Gal Gadot made her first appearance as Wonder Woman near the end of Batman v Superman before starring in her own film, 2017's Wonder Woman.
Directed by Zack Snyder and written by Chris Terrio and David S. Goyer, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot.
